USAID Supported Farmer to Farmer Program renews its activities in Moldova for another five years

125 American expert agribusiness volunteers will come to Moldova during the 2008-2013 to provide free consulting services to Moldovan farmers.  Over the next five years, the Farmer to Farmer (FtF) program projects a potential direct and indirect additional increase in total agricultural sales up to $10 million as a result of this program.  Using the American consultants’ knowledge and experience, they will work together with Moldovan counterparts to improve crop and livestock growing techniques, increase income from value-adding processing, develop new products, introduce new technology, cultivate new markets, and strengthen support services within the targeted fruit, vegetable and livestock value chains.  FtF is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the CNFA, Inc. The American consultants come purely as volunteers.  These highly qualified consultants, who are selected for their business and agricultural acumen, come and spend up to three weeks with a Moldovan farmer or business.  While here, they address technical and financial issues that can improve commercial performance. This $2 million program promotes agricultural development by pairing consultants to work with smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, cooperatives, associations, informal farmer groups, and agribusiness support services enterprises.  The program specifically sends volunteer consultants to host organizations in strategic agricultural sub-sectors: dairy and high value fruit and vegetables.   Companies and farmers eligible for FtF program assistance, must demonstrate a strong commitment to achieve superior results and have clear ideas how to reach them, have a proven track record of successful business operation and to be willing to make a financial contribution to cover the costs of the volunteer’s stay in Moldova. CNFA has managed the FTF program in Moldova since 1999 and this new five year program builds on the strong track record that has been achieved over that period.   To obtain more information about the program, contact Nadejda Mocanu, the Country Coordinator for FtF, at tel.: (+373 22), 577.935, 577.930 or email: nmocanu@moldova.cnfa.org.   ### CNFA, Inc.  is an American organization dedicated to stimulating economic growth around the world by nurturing entrepreneurship, private enterprise, and market linkages.  It specializes in engaging private sector investment in training, new technology, and marketing as a means to increase overall competitiveness, expand exports, create jobs, and ultimately generate higher incomes for farmers, processors, and distributors. With funding from the United States Government, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all.